Climate and Weather: Red Rocks
Just on the western edge of Las Vegas, Red Rocks rises in a great colourful escarpment, formed along a fault zone with peaks over 8,000 feet, including huge cliffs and ravines composed of bands of grey, white and red rock, all heavily eroded. Varnished edges, incut jugs, splitter cracks, technical faces—Red Rocks multi-pitch routes have it all. All told, the multi-pitch classics of Red Rocks are uniquely accessible, relatively low on the commitment scale, and coupled with lots of sun and generally great weather, undeniably high on the pure climbing fun scale!
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Red Rocks' climate is typical of the Mojave Desert, in which it is located, marked with hot summers, mild winters, abundant sunshine year-round, and very little rainfall. Highs in the 90s are common in the months of May, June, and September and temperatures normally exceed 100°F for several days in the months of July and August, but there is very low humidity, making the temps not feel quite so hot. The hottest temperature ever recorded is 117°F set twice, on July 19, 2005 at McCarran International Airport and July 24, 1942 at present-day Nellis Air Force Base.
Winters are cool and windy, with the majority of annual 4.5 in of rainfall coming from January to March. Winter daytime highs are normally around 60°F and winter nighttime lows are usually around 40°F. The coldest temperature ever recorded is 8°F set on January 25, 1937 at present-day Nellis Air Force Base.
Showers occur less frequently in the Spring or Autumn. July through September, the Mexican Monsoon often brings enough moisture from the Gulf of California across Mexico and into the southwest to cause afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Although winter snow is usually visible from December to May on the mountains surrounding Las Vegas, it rarely snows in the city itself.